Extraordinary Gentlemen

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen [Blu-ray]
$24.99
LXG is a flashy stylized action comic book movie, that fails to create desire for a sequel due to bad acting and bad writing. Sadly enough it's one of the worst comic adaptations, and it managed to cause Alan Moore to lose faith in Hollywood. One of the greatest comic writers suffers a big embarassment in this film. Lucky enough for him, his other adaptations, which he refuses to watch, are outstanding (V for Vendetta, Watchmen, From Hell). I can watch this movie and be entertained, but I can't give it credit for much of anything. It's fight scenes are definately watchable, but everything else received no critical attention.

The Good: LXG is very slick and cool in terms of it's style. The color palette and clothing are interesting, as is its sets and cinematography. The fight scenes are thrilling, and the CG is very realistic. I was glad to see a more realistic approach to the special effects, and not some goofy computer animated sigh-fest. As for the good of this film, that gets me to watch it every now and then, this is it.

The Bad: The wonderful cast is slaughtered with horrible witty lines scattered endlessly throughout the script. No one wants to see quirks and quips, we want realistic relations. These actors can't make the dialogue seem real at all, and it's horrible to watch. If I watched this in another language it might be more entertaining. I hate to see nearly every line a joke, and not a moment of seriousness within the film. It should have been handed to better writers and a better director, and it would have been a beautiful film. We now have proof, that "Blade" was begginner's luck.

I'm the type of viewer/reviewer who can sit down and watch the cheesy ones every now and then. Some movies are almost unbearably campy, but they still manage to entertain. If you can stay on the sunny side, then LXG might be worth your bucks. If you are easily annoyed you might want to stay far away from the film. There's plenty of great comic book adaptations out there. It's just sad LXG isn't one of them.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier
$19.99
I appreciate the out there style of The League, but this is a bit rediculouse. This issue not only feels like you've never read the series before but it makes you wonder if you really want the next installment. Not only that but where the previous two iterations sort of hinted at sexual endevours and this issue does a olympic style dive into sexual literature. I appreciate how Moore's books give you a break from the illustrations to fill in the story, but this one is half novel and that is not what I think most people are looking for in the series. It'd take a very good turn in the next issue to make me want to invest in the series again. So sad. I really liked the direction this series was taking.

The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen - Movie Poster (Size: 27'' x 39'')
$18.99
This item is in new and mint condition. It has never been hung, used or displayed.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
$30.49
It's too bad that LXG did poorly with critics and box office alike. My ten-year-old son absolutely loved the movie; because I saw it with him, I enjoyed it too, but was distracted with thoughts of all the ways it might have been better, even great.

The one thing about that movie that IS undeniably outstanding is its soundtrack. Wow. I had not heard of Trevor Jones before, but I'm keeping an eye out for his name now, and I expect greatness when I see it. Much of the score has a similar sound, and like John Williams, Trevor Jones gives each character a haunting theme that follows them through the movie and interweaves with other characters and with situations as they arise.

But unlike a Star Wars soundtrack, this one includes a few of other very different genres too: African "world music" (track 2 and 15, done authentically and enjoyably by Ladysmith Black Mombasa), and a period ballroom piece (track 4) that stands out like a bright gilt-and-brocade Elizabethan armchair in a dark and empty castle.

The general feeling of this soundtrack is dark, like the movie to which it gave life. Listen to this on a high quality sound system with a big subwoofer to really appreciate what Trevor Jones has done on the bass end of things. It moves from haunting to suspenseful to surging violence and back again; makes me wish someone would release a re-edited version of the film with improved character development etc., just because this soundtrack deserves a top flight movie to go with it.

It stands well on its own, by the way: anyone looking for spooky but non-cheesy Halloween background music will love this (try Mina Harker's Secret or Phantom's Lair). Looking for dramatic music for a home video or a film short? Shop the aisles of this album: it's top quality orchestral work that no one will recognize, as so few are familiar with the movie. Try the end of Treachery (the last minute and 20 seconds) or The Game Is On, or pick up 50 seconds into the first track, Dawn of a New Century.

But don't listen to this album alone on a dark stormy night. Strong stuff. ;-) That's why I ultimately had to give it only 4 stars-- it's overwhelming, despite the warmth and brightness of the three contrasting tracks.